Is Running A Restaurant The Hardest Business Of All?

December 5, 2018

Some may completely balk at the question, but when you are running a business that requires so many artistic flourishes, not to mention pristine customer service on a minute by minute basis, running a restaurant appears to be one of the most difficult businesses any budding entrepreneur can undertake. When it's done right, a successful restaurant can be the talk of the town and can be run tighter than any military operation. In this respect, restaurants pose unique and wonderful challenges for any aspiring restauranteur. But, how can you make sure that it delivers the goods?
The Workers Make The Business
It's impossible for a restaurant owner to take credit for the entire business going well when so many miniature components have to work together as one. From the chefs to the waiters and waitresses, and everything in between, it's so difficult to keep a customer happy from one minute to the next. All it takes is one wry comment from a member of staff or a lack of apology, and this sours a customer’s experience forever.
You Can Never Underestimate The Marketing
Have you ever tried to get information from a restaurant’s website? All you need is the menu, the opening times, the location and contact number, but it seems that many websites don't bother with the vast majority of this information. It's important that you take the time to get a website that delivers the goods. It doesn't have to be supremely detailed; a lot of the time, simplicity is key. But now, there are many resources that can help you with this if you don't know how to do it yourself. Tipsy Table's specialist service for restaurants and bars can provide you with the essential information and help to make sure your website is presentable and communicates the basic information. It's surprising how many people underestimate the marketing when it comes to a successful restaurant because they think that the food tells it all. This is not the case these days, especially when there is so much competition out there.
The Sheer Amount Of Hours
If you are after a work-life balance, the restaurant industry is not the place to find it! For any person looking to develop a restaurant empire or even the most basic of eateries, it demands your full attention from the moment you wake up in the morning and well beyond your regular bedtime! For people who don't know much about running a restaurant business, the one thing we all know is that to get it shipshape, it’s at least 50-hour working weeks. And when we are physically doing this amount of work, having to deal with upset customers, temperamental staff, and all the while making sure that everybody is happy down to the smallest detail, it can take its toll. This is why it's essential that you have the passion. If you do not have the passion to see you through, you could find yourself falling at the first hurdle.
Running a restaurant requires so many different hats, you've got to be the best in customer service, a manager that doesn't lose their head, but also you have to nurture and inspire creative talent. Is it the hardest business of all? Quite possibly!

Mark Asquith

That British podcast guy, Mark is co-founder of Captivate.fm, the world's only growth-oriented podcast host. A Harvard, TEDx, Podcast Movement and Podfest speaker (amongst many more!), he's a wildly approachable Brit and Star Wars/DC Comics geek.

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